^AVCTH PARLIAMENT. XXII. of CHaij. ij8 4 . x 37 THE A U C H T PARLIAMENT CURREN Halden at Edinburgh, the XXII dale of CMaij , thezeirofGod, 1584. zeires; Be the rkht excellent, richt helch and michtie 'Prince , JAMES the Sext, be the Grace of God, King of SCOTT ES , and the three Eftaites of this Realme. ixo. t^Ane a£l confirming the Kingis ^Majefties Royal power over all Efiaites, and fiibje£les within this Realme. ORSAMEIKLE As fum perfones , being lately called befoir the Kings Maje- 'jeftie, and his fecreit Counceil: to anfvver upon certaine points to have bene in- quired of them , concerning fum treafon able, fedirious, and contumelious fpea- ches, uttered by them m Pulpit, Schooles, and utherwaies , to the difdaine and reproch ofhis Hienes , his Progenitours , and prefent Counceil, contemptuouflie declined the judgement ol his Hienes, and his faid Counceil in that behalfe , to the evil exempli of utheris to do the like, gif timous remeede be not provided. Therefoir our Soveraine Loru , and his three Eftaites aflembled in this prefent Par- liament, ratifies, andapprevis, and perpetually confirmis the royal power, and authoritie over all Eftaites , alfvveill Spiritual , as Temporal , within this Realme, in the perfon of the Kingis Majeftie , our Soveraine Lord , his aires and fucceflburs : And als ftatutisand ordainis, that his Hienes , his faidis aires and fuccefTours, be themfelves , and their Councelles, ar, and in time to cum fall bejudges competent to all perfones his Hienes iubjedtes, of quhat-fum-ever eftaite , degree, function, or condition that ever they be of , Spiritual or Temporal, in all matters , quhairin they , or ony of them fall be apprehended , fummound , or charged to anfwer to fik thinges as fall be inquired of them, be our faid Soveraine Lord and his Counceil. And that nane of them, quhilkis fall happen to be apprehended, called, or fummound, to the effect foirfaid, prefume, or tak upon hand to decline die judgement of his Hienes , his aires and fucceffours , or their Counceil in the premises , under the paine of treafon. 130. Anent the authoritie of the tloree Eftaites of Parliament. TH E Kingc Majeftie , confiddering the honour and the authoritie of his fupreeme court of Parliament, continued paft all memory of man, unto thir dayes, as conftitute upon the frie votes of the three E- ftaites of this auncient Kingdome. Be quhom the fame under God , hes ever bene uphalden , rebellious and traiterous fubjedfes punifhed , the gude and faithfull preferved, and mainteined, and the lawes and acTes of Parliament (be quhilkis all men ar governed) maid and eftabliihed. And finding the power , dignitie, and authoritie of the faid Court of Parliament , ot laic zeires called in fum doubt , at leaft fum curiouflie travelling to have introduced fum innovation theiraneut , his Majefties firme-will and mind alwaies being as it is zit: That the honour , authority, and dignitie of his faidis three Eftaites fall ftand , and con- tinew in the awin integritie , according to the ancient , and lovabill cuftome by-gane , without ony alte- ration, or diminution. Therefoir it is ftatute, and ordained, be our faid Soveraine Lord, andhislaidis three Eftaites , in this prefent Parliament , that nane of his Lieges and fubjecTes prefume, or tak upon hand, to impugne the dignitie , and the authoritie of the faidis three hftaites, or tofeek, or procure the innova- tion, or diminution of the power, and authoritie of die fame three Eftaites, oronyofthemintimecum- ming, under the paine of treafon. • 131. Ane aft difchargeing all jurifdiEtions , and judgements , not approoved be Par- liament , and all affembhes , and conventions , without our Soveraine Lordis fpecial licence and commandement . F ORSAMEIKLE, as in the troublous times, during thir xxiiij. zeires , by-paft, findrie formes of judgements and jurifdictions , alfvveill in Spiritual , as Temporal caufes , ar entred in the praftize and cuftome, quhairby the Kingis Majefties fubjecTes ar often-times convocat , and aflembled togidder, and paines alfvveill civile and pecunial, as Ecclefuftical , injoined unto them: procefles led, and deduced: fentences, and decreetes given , and the fame put in execution : Na fik ordour as zit , being allowed of, and approved be his Majeftie , and his three Eftaites in Parliament , contrare the cuftome obferved in onie uther Chriftian Kingdome , or weill governed commoun weill : And to the diminifhing of the force , and power of his Hienes awin Lawes , be the quhilkis his Majefties fubjeftcs audit to be ruled : And fpe- M m ciallie-
